His Excellency President Vladimir PutinPresident of the Russian Federation 4, Staraya SquareMoscow, 103132Russia

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to express our concerns following your statement that Russia is maintaining contacts with Hamas and intends to invite the leadership of the organization to Moscow.

Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the eradication of the State of Israel through violent means, with the ultimate goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state. The Hamas covenant calls for the “obliteration” of Israel through terrorism and violence and is replete with anti-Semitism. Hamas cites the infamous anti-Semitic forgery, The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, as its justification for its terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli men, women and children.

The issue is not that there were democratic elections. It is that the party in power – Hamas – must be held accountable for what it stands for, namely the destruction of Israel and the use of terrorism. These are positions and actions that are unacceptable in relations between peoples and nations and it must be made clear in a consistent way that the nations of the world reject these views.

The only way to do that, in the hope of not legitimizing terror and destruction and in the hope that real change will occur, is to isolate this regime until it changes. That is why we respectfully urge your government to refuse to meet with Hamas representatives. In so doing, Russia will make clear to the Palestinian people that a regime with such goals is unacceptable and can bring them no international benefit or good will.